Randi Gets Rude...

[Peter Morris]

Not at all.

Several times, certain things that were originally considered "paranormal", or "fringe science" or "quackery", have been verified by conventional science, and are these days considered to be "normal", whatever that means.

At one time the existence of meteorites was denied by the best scientific knowledge. The only people that believed in them were superstitious peasants, and a Yankee professor.

I cannot conceive of anything that could be called "paranormal" after it has been proved true. Proving it true simply changes it's normal/paranormal status, right?

 

[apoger]

Proving it true simply changes it's normal/paranormal status, right?

Correct.

However since science does not "prove" anything and certainly does not declare "truths", it would be better to state: Upon the acquisition of enough credible evidence we will change it's normal/paranormal status.

 

[Peter Morris]

A fair point. I accept your correction.

 

[billydkid]

No

"The guy is lying. Period."


He may be able to do what he claims.

No, he may not be able to do what he claims. It is not a disputable fact that a living creature can not live without a source of nourishment. And, no, being open to the possibility is not being open minded, it is being stupid.

 

[ReFLeX]

Uh, guys, and I mean especially CF Larsen, when someone makes a paranormal claim, and your expert analysis and specialised knowledge shows them to be obviously faking it, maybe you were wrong about that too, is it possible ?

I think Randi wrote the letter verbatim but perhaps the website superimposed the text graphically over JREF stationery to make it clearer...

 

[kookbreaker]

Undead Thread!


Shoot It!


Flee!

 

[NiallM]

Oh dear, oh dear. What an idiotic claim!

It's also outrageously offensive to the many people who have died in famine, or who have died in concentration camps, or died on hunger strike.

Oh, of course, they didn't have the chakra, or crapka, or whatever it's called.

People have died attempting breatharianism.

I would have far far harsher words to say to an idiot who promotes such a dangerous practice.

And, yes, the words "fraud" and "liar" are apt. He simply has not lived for 5 years on water and air. He has eaten during that time and he knows he has.

I'm prepared to accept that some of the woo-woos out there genuinely believe that they have paranormal powers. Anyone who would deny eating for 5 years is lying, though.

 

[sf108]

I saw this Korean SBS show which documented this guy who ate rocks for food. Not sure if anyone knows...but the camera crew took him along to the doctor, and they said he was quite skinny, but nevertheless healthy.

Possible?

 

[T'ai Chi]

Rock candy, or those jellybeans that are made to look like rocks?

 

[jj]

I saw this Korean SBS show which documented this guy who ate rocks for food. Not sure if anyone knows...but the camera crew took him along to the doctor, and they said he was quite skinny, but nevertheless healthy.

Possible?

One of my kids loves to hand out candy-covered chocolates that look exactly like small river gravel.

She'll take one out of the dish when somebody new is watching, and crunch down on it.

Some of the reactions are priceless. Is the guy living on chocolate?

 

[Bodhi Dharma Zen]

Before defending or accusing Randi, its important to see if the letter is real. Specially if this is an skeptics forum!!!!!

I say is fake, for the reasons other posters have said. Anyone with photoshop can amplify it and see it.

 

[NiallM]

Before defending or accusing Randi, its important to see if the letter is real. Specially if this is an skeptics forum!!!!!

I say is fake, for the reasons other posters have said. Anyone with photoshop can amplify it and see it.

Err, Randi himself appears to have implicitly recognised the letter. He did so in this thread. It may be that their scanning efforts have made it look less than convincing; perhaps they have cleaned it up too much. As far as I know, though, no-one is in doubt that the letter was sent.

 

[T'ai Chi]

Claus, still believe it is fake?

 

[Bodhi Dharma Zen]

Err, Randi himself appears to have implicitly recognised the letter. He did so in this thread. It may be that their scanning efforts have made it look less than convincing; perhaps they have cleaned it up too much. As far as I know, though, no-one is in doubt that the letter was sent.

When I wrote it, there was not any post by Randy!! I swear it!

 

[princhester]

I saw this Korean SBS show which documented this guy who ate rocks for food. Not sure if anyone knows...but the camera crew took him along to the doctor, and they said he was quite skinny, but nevertheless healthy.

Possible?

Entirely. It's entirely possible he eats rocks for food.

However, one would suspect that he also eats noodles etc, for food and it is that, and not the rocks, that keep him healthy.

Now where's my GL? It's the only thing that will take down one of these zombie threads permanently...

 

[T'ai Chi]

Re: No

No, he may not be able to do what he claims. It is not a disputable fact that a living creature can not live without a source of nourishment. And, no, being open to the possibility is not being open minded, it is being stupid.

The claimed source of nourishment is the air, apparently.

Claus, you there? Zep? Still claim the letter was faked?

 

[T'ai Chi]

Bump for those fine skeptics, Claus and Zep:

Claus

It's a fake.

Two decades of working with computer graphics tells me so.

Zep

I reckon the letter is a complete and utter fake. The proof is quite simple to see.

Randi

That letter is quite real, not faked

 

[T'ai Chi]

bump for Claus and Claus Lite.

 

[Solus]

Bumped to remind skeptics to admit they are wrong sometimes...

 

[Zep]

Sure we can be wrong! That's what being a skeptic means.

Now...

How many times have the woo-woos admitted THEY are wrong??